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How to Become a Child Care Provider
General Information
Child care providers play an important role in assisting Child Care Services (CCS) families to become self-sufficient and offering them quality child care services. CCS staff contract with a large number of licensed child care centers, licensed child care homes, and registered child care homes in the Workforce Solutions of West Central Texas Service Delivery Area to ensure families have a large variety of care options from which to choose.
Child Care Provider Options
CCS offers 2 child care provider options to families - regulated care and relative care. Regulated care is care provided by a home or facility that is either licensed or registered by the Texas Health and Human Services Commission. Relative care is care provided by a close family relative of the child(ren) for whom care is being authorized.
Eligibility
You may be eligible to become a CCS provider if your child care facility meets these:
Requirement 1 - Licensing & Registration
To be a provider, a facility must:
- Have a current license or registration with the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (TDFPS) as a licensed child care center, licensed child care home, or registered child care home
- Be operated and monitored by the United States Military Services
Requirement 2 - Sign a Child Care Provider Agreement
To be a provider, a child care facility must:
- Agree to abide by the terms of the Child Care Provider Agreement
- Agree to follow the procedures outlined in the Child Care Provider Manual (PDF)
- Sign a Child Care Provider Agreement
If your facility meets the licensing or registration requirements, and you are interested in exploring the possibility of signing a contract to provide child care services to Child Care Services (CCS) families, please complete the Interested Provider Application and submit to the CCS offices using any of our contact information.
While some parents may find that regulated child care best fits the needs of their family, others may determine that having a relative care for their child is the option that best suits their needs.
In order for a relative to provide child care for families receiving CCS assistance, the relative must meet the following criteria:
- Must be at least 18 years of age
- Does not reside in the same house as the child
- Is, by marriage, blood relationship, or court decree, one of the following to the child:
- Aunt or uncle
- Grandparent or great-grandparent
- Sibling
- Must submit to a criminal background check (individuals who are listed on the Texas Department of Public Safety’s Sex Offender Registry are not eligible to be a relative care provider)
- Must become listed with the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services
Applications
If your facility meets the licensing or registration requirements, and you are interested in exploring the possibility of signing a contract to provide child care services to CCS families, please complete the Interested Provider Application (PDF) and submit it to the CCS offices using any of our contact information.
Child Care Provider Manual
Once you have become a contracted provider, you will be required to adhere to the terms of your contract with CCS, as well as following the policies and procedures outlined in the Child Care Provider Manual (PDF). Hard copies of the manual are available upon request. If you have any questions about the information contained in the Manual, please contact the CCS office.
Resources
If your family is receiving Child Care Services (CCS) assistance and you are interested in having a relative care for your child(ren), please download the Relative Provider Information for Parents brochure (PDF) and review.
You will also want to download the Relative Provider Information for Providers brochure (PDF) and share it with the relative you wish to care for your child(ren). Once both parties have reviewed the materials, if it is agreed that relative care best fits the family’s needs, contact us to determine next steps.